RESEARCHERS have drawn our attention to some interesting finds among the Bankes archive, a project focused upon one of Dorset's most significant collections.

Heritage Lottery Funded-work is underway on dealing with the 25,000 item collection, which contains documents that date from the 13th century right through to the present day. The Bankes were considered to be one of the most powerful families in England, owning both the estates of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy.

We must thank archive volunteer Roger Lane, of West Stafford, who has shared a letter from the 'Royal collection' of the Bankes archive.

Roger said: "Many families keep letters from famous people; generations of the Bankes family did and the recently re-catalogued albums in the Dorset History Centre are fascinating.

"If there were portraits of the writers on the walls, this would rival the National Portrait Gallery!"

Some letters are ordinary, routine acknowledgements of invitations or 'thank you' letters from extraordinary men and women, but others offer intriguing insights.

One such fascinating letter was penned by King George III to his son, Prince Ernest, the Duke of Cumberland.

Prince Ernest had previously writes to his father on December 12, 1804 of his own eye problems; he had lost the sight of his left eye and been left 'shockingly scarred' by a battle wound at Tournai ten years earlier. Prince Ernest urges his father to support 'an enclosed plan', hoping that Royal oculist Sir Jonathan Wathen Phipps/Waller (often known as Phipps or ‘Phippy’) ‘who has attended me assiduously over the years’ will have ‘the credit of becoming the promoter of this charity…' The plan was the formation of the Royal Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye.

King George III, of course, is well remembered in these parts for his frequent visits to Weymouth, popularising the town as a seaside resort.

Roger said: "This letter looks totally different from any of the others; written with a broad nib practically dripping ink onto the page, it reveals his failing eyesight.

"Within a few months of writing it he was too blind to handle his own correspondence. The fact that he refers to “loss of sight” makes it all the more poignant."

The letter was sent from Windsor Castle on December 14, 1804.

It reads: "My dear Ernest,

"The humane plan you sent me yesterday which has been drawn up by Mr Phipps the Oculist meets with my thorough concurrence.

"I desire to be named Patron of this necessary Institution and I will certainly be an Annual Benefactor to so useful an Establishment. ........... the loss of sight is the most grievous as it renders the Unhappy Object in a constant state of dependence on others.

"I flatter myself your feeling so strongly for others labouring under that calamity to redouble your attention ...."

Actually, Ernest had had his own eye problems; he had lost the sight of his left eye and been left “shockingly scarred” by a battle wound at Tournai ten years earlier.)

This positive reply was all that Phipps, the Royal oculist could have hoped for,

The Royal Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye was subsequently founded. The King’s thick, inky handwriting hints towards his failing eyesight, which was brought on by bilateral cataracts.

There are two theories about how this document came to the Bankes, Roger said.

It is possible that the letter came from Georgina Nugent (1799-1875), wife of George Bankes (1787-1856), who is believed to be the illegitimate daughter of Prince Ernest.

Or perhaps the Prince of Wales gave the letter to Georgina's mother Charlotte Nugent, who collected royal signatures. Another explanation is that Prince Ernest gave it to a collector, who would have then sold the letter on to one of the Bankes.

Thanks to Roger and staff at Unlocking the Bankes Archive Project for this insight to Royal history.